Public safety & law — Topics

1 Feb 2021

Piracy Attacks in Singapore Strait

Melvin Yong asked about the number of piracy attacks, arrests, trends, and plans to enhance ship safety in the Singapore Strait in 2020.
Ng Eng Hen reported 34 incidents in 2020, mostly petty theft outside Singapore waters, with no rise over the past decade and an average of 28 incidents annually.
Singapore agencies coordinate with neighbors like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand to address incidents, sharing information and conducting patrols despite COVID-19.
The Maritime Crisis Centre and Information Fusion Centre support situational awareness and response, as seen in a case where Indonesian authorities arrested perpetrators after information sharing.
Singapore remains committed to improving maritime security measures and regional cooperation to mitigate piracy and robbery threats.

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1 Feb 2021

Extend Evidence-gathering Methods for High-rise Littering to Cases of People Smoking at Windows and Balconies

Louis Ng asked if evidence-gathering methods for high-rise littering could be extended to smoking at windows and balconies.
The NEA uses surveillance cameras for littering, but capturing smoking acts is harder due to smoke's transient nature and privacy concerns.
Deploying cameras to monitor windows and balconies faces practical challenges, including limited thermal camera range and evasion by smokers.

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1 Feb 2021

Strengthen Enforcement Action against Reckless Cyclists on Footpaths and Park Connector Networks

Lim Biow Chuan queried if enforcement against reckless cyclists on footpaths and Park Connector Networks can be increased.
Ong Ye Kung highlighted that enforcement resources have tripled, with over 200 officers and daily operations, leading to action against more than 720 cyclists since 2019.
Challenges in monitoring 6,000 km of paths are addressed through technology like mobile CCTVs and a public reporting app, alongside ongoing public education efforts.

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1 Feb 2021

Tackling Family Violence

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Family Violence was established in February 2020 and will submit its recommendations to the Ministers in April 2021 to tackle family violence through a whole-of-community approach.
Immediate steps include using rigorous screening tools and training for professionals in preschools, schools, clinics, and hospitals to detect and act on child abuse, with protocols to alert Child Protective Services.
The "Community Guardian" app has been launched to enable grassroots leaders and volunteers to report family violence cases for quick investigation by trained first responders.
Efforts are being stepped up to involve corporate partners and community leaders to increase vigilance and reporting of possible family violence incidents.
The public is urged to report concerns about abuse to protect and assist victims, especially children, in a timely manner.

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1 Feb 2021

Trend of Cyber Scams and Hacks in Last Five Years

The Ministry shared that from 2015 to 2020, Police received about 1,900 reports of cyber scams targeting non-natural persons like companies and over 8,000 reports of unauthorized attempts to access computer material, though it does not track if all attempts were company-specific.
To combat cybercrime, the government established the APPACT platform for public-private collaboration and launched the Safer Cyberspace Masterplan, which focuses on securing digital infrastructure, safeguarding online activities, and empowering the population with cybersecurity awareness and tools.
The government provides support through toolkits for cybersecurity education and grants like the Productivity Solutions Grants and SMEs Go Digital Programme to help enterprises adopt Security-as-a-Service solutions, while urging businesses to strengthen their own cybersecurity measures and verify payment requests to avoid scams.

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1 Feb 2021

Punishment against Criminals who Commit Cheating or Scam Offences Electronically

Lim Biow Chuan asked if the government will enhance punishment for criminals committing cheating or scam offences electronically or via telephone.
K Shanmugam stated that scammers can be charged under Penal Code Sections 417 to 420 with imprisonment terms of 3 to 10 years, and MHA considers these penalties adequate.
MHA highlighted that the main challenge is overseas-based scammers and is collaborating with foreign law enforcement, stepping up public education, and working with industry partners to prevent scams.

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1 Feb 2021

Legal Requirement for Social Media Platforms to Inform Users When Accounts Have Been Compromised

Miss Cheryl Chan proposed requiring social media platforms to legally notify users of compromised accounts, provide a reporting channel, and maintain offices to handle such reports.
The Minister responded that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, users can report hacking to police, and PDPA mandates notification for significant breaches and requires social media companies to appoint Data Protection Officers.
Social media platforms already offer incident reporting channels and mechanisms for unusual login alerts, and users are urged to practice good cyber hygiene.
The government is committed to collaborating with stakeholders and will continue reviewing laws and measures to protect citizens in the digital space.

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1 Feb 2021

Raising Awareness of Potential Risks on Emerging Social Media Platforms

The Government is committed to promoting digital literacy and cyber wellness across ministries, partnering with the people and private sectors to address risks on emerging platforms like TikTok and OnlyFans.
Agencies have launched initiatives such as the Digital Media and Information Literacy Framework and updated the Character and Citizenship Education curriculum to equip youths, parents, and educators with skills to recognize and manage online risks.
The Media Council collaborates with government and tech companies on campaigns and workshops to educate youths on online safety and promote responsible digital parenting.
Efforts are coordinated across ministries to support youth mental wellbeing and foster a safer internet culture through collective action.
The government will continue working with partners to strengthen community resilience against evolving threats on new social media platforms.

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1 Feb 2021

Management Support for Frontline Healthcare Workers who are Verbally or Physically Harassed

Ng Ling Ling asked whether public healthcare institutions are required to have clear policies for escalating harassment cases, providing tiered support based on severity, and reporting case numbers to the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Gan Kim Yong stated that MOH and public institutions have a zero-tolerance policy, established escalation processes, and track incidents internally, though individual case reporting to MOH is not mandatory.
The Protection from Harassment Act (POHA) provides enhanced protection for healthcare workers on duty, with reported cases rising from 1,080 in 2018 to 1,300 in 2020, and police reports under POHA Section 6 increasing from 40 to 58 over the same period.
Public healthcare institutions offer support systems including helplines, counselling, peer programmes, and training modules to help staff manage harassment and stress, with MOH committed to monitoring and enhancing staff well-being.

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1 Feb 2021

Lessons for Maritime Sector from Bunker Vessel NewOcean 6's COVID-19 Cluster

The Ministry explained that the COVID-19 cluster on the bunker vessel "NewOcean 6" occurred despite existing safety protocols, as an imported crew member who tested negative pre-departure and upon arrival later developed symptoms, leading to 12 other crew members and one shore-based officer testing positive, though no further community spread occurred.
In response, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) enhanced measures including reducing the pre-departure Stay-Home Notice for incoming harbour craft crew to 5 days, adding a 14-day SHN upon arrival, and requiring a negative test before boarding, alongside testing all crew on vessels that had crew changes since December 2020.
New measures also include introducing contactless bunkering operations, tightening testing intervals for shore-based personnel to every 7 days, implementing SafeEntry@Sea requiring a negative test within 72 hours before boarding ships, and increasing enforcement with fines or imprisonment for non-compliance.
The government has begun vaccinating 17,000 frontline maritime personnel, with over 13,000 receiving their first dose by late January 2021, targeting completion by end-February 2021 to secure the maritime border.

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5 Jan 2021

Clarification by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister-in-Charge of the Smart Nation Initiative

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan clarified that under the Criminal Procedure Code, police can order production of TraceTogether data for criminal investigations, noting user privacy is protected in normal use but the data is not exempt from legal provisions.
He issued a factual correction to his initial parliamentary statement, stating that TraceTogether data is not exempt from section 20 of the CPC rather than section 22.
The debate focused on legal compliance and data privacy, emphasizing that TraceTogether data is accessible for criminal probes while maintaining protections for general use.

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5 Jan 2021

Breakdown on Number of Persons of Unsound Mind Detained under Section 252 of Criminal Procedure Code

In the past three years, two persons were acquitted under the Penal Code for acts due to unsound mind and detained under Section 252 of the CPC, with one discharged after about 2.5 years and the other still detained as of January 2021.
Detained individuals are evaluated every six months by two visitors, one a medical practitioner, who report to the Minister for Law on their mental state and suitability for discharge, considering factors like the disorder's nature, treatment response, and social support.
The Minister for Law may order discharge if certified safe by the principal officer and visitors, and may also consider the severity of the committed act in evaluations.

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5 Jan 2021

Number of Expedited Orders, Personal Protection Orders and Domestic Orders Obtained since Circuit Breaker

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Law about the numbers of expedited orders, personal protection orders, and domestic exclusion orders obtained since the start of the Circuit Breaker in April 2020.
K Shanmugam provided data from 7 April to 30 November 2020 on the number of each type of order granted by the Family Justice Courts.
The response outlined the breakdown of orders during the specified Circuit Breaker period.
The debate focused on the impact of the Circuit Breaker on domestic and personal protection legal measures.
The information was presented in response to a specific parliamentary question about post-Circuit Breaker legal orders.

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5 Jan 2021

Training on Sexual Offences for Judicial Officials

Judicial officers receive training on sexual offences, including modules by the Singapore Judicial College that cover rape myths, stereotypes, victim psychology, and trauma, with sessions held in 2018, 2020, and upcoming in 2021.
The courts have incorporated expert evidence from institutions like the Institute of Mental Health to address victim behavior, inconsistent testimonies, and trauma dynamics, and judges are empowered to intervene to protect victims from distressing questioning.
Legal amendments in 2018 to the Evidence Act restrict irrelevant questioning of sexual offence victims, and judges are trained to apply these rules to prevent further trauma during court proceedings.

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5 Jan 2021

Applications for Permits for Public Assemblies Outside Speakers' Corner

Since the Public Order Act was introduced in 2009, the Police received 11,269 applications for permits for public assemblies outside Speakers' Corner, approving 8,545, with rejections due to reasons including cancellation by organizers or specific concerns under Section 7(2) of the Act such as public disorder, safety risks, or threats to public order.
The Minister did not provide specific reasons for each approval or rejection, as tabulating them would require a review of every application, and the Police do not track how many one-person assemblies or processions were approved or rejected.
For one-person assemblies, the same public order considerations apply, as the provisions of the Public Order Act can be breached by individuals, and assemblies are not prevented outright but require a permit to allow Police assessment, with the majority of applications being approved.

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5 Jan 2021

Breakdown of Statistics on Sexual Assault Cases

From 2017 to 2019, there were 6,988 reported sexual assault cases, with 1,368 prosecuted and 931 convictions; victims included 2,798 under 16, 1,000 aged 16–20, and 3,685 aged 21 and above, though the count does not directly match cases due to multiple victims or repeat cases.
Relationship breakdowns showed 109 cases between teachers and students, 619 between colleagues, 47 between professionals and clients, 599 between relatives, 2,243 between friends, 2,957 between strangers, and 414 other relationships; data on foreign domestic workers as victims was not provided.
From 2005 to 2019, 4,606 offenders were convicted for sexual assault, with 1,364 being repeat sexual offenders and 1,078 having prior non-sexual convictions; the government does not track alcohol or drug use or psychiatric diagnoses among offenders in relation to these cases.

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5 Jan 2021

Number of Sexual Misconduct Cases in Post-Secondary and Tertiary Institutions in Last Five Years

Seah Kian Peng asked whether there has been an increase in sexual misconduct cases in post-secondary and tertiary institutions over the last five years.
Lawrence Wong stated there was no discernible trend in incidence rates from 2015 to 2019, with 205 total disciplinary cases across pre-university and higher learning institutions.
The average rate was 0.13 cases per 1,000 staff and students annually.
The Ministry of Education and institutions commit to a safe environment through education, support for victims, stricter disciplinary measures, and infrastructure improvements.
All educational institutions maintain a strong stance against sexual misconduct and address it holistically.

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5 Jan 2021

Balancing Efforts Spent on Inspecting Registered PMDs and Enforcing on Illegally Modified or Unregistered PMDs

Christopher de Souza asked about reducing inspection frequency for registered PMDs with good records and increasing monitoring to deter illegally modified or unregistered PMDs.
Ong Ye Kung stated that mandatory inspections are essential for all registered PMDs to ensure compliance with safety standards and prevent illegal modifications, with inspection centers available across Singapore.
LTA enforces against non-compliant PMDs, uses public feedback via a mobile app, and is exploring CCTV use, with 760 cases detected in early 2020 leading to fines or imprisonment.

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5 Jan 2021

Payment of Fines by Instalments

Leon Perera asked which government agencies allow instalment payments for fines, the proportion of fines paid via instalments in the past three years, and how the availability of such options is communicated to offenders.
Heng Swee Keat explained that fines are typically collected in full to deter wrongdoing, and instalments are only granted upon appeal based on financial hardship, considering factors like the fine amount and offence severity.
The Ministry of Finance does not have centralized data on instalment payments due to decentralized administration by individual agencies, and specific inquiries should be directed to the relevant ministries.

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5 Jan 2021

Tracking of Police's Performance in Investigating and Solving Crimes Involving Online Scams

The Ministry of Home Affairs reports that online scams have surged, with nearly 15,000 cases and over $254 million lost in the first eleven months of 2020, driven by increased online activity and transnational criminal syndicates.
Police track performance through metrics such as investigations into money mules, arrests, frozen bank accounts, and recovered funds, with the Anti-Scam Centre freezing over 11,200 accounts and recovering about $57.7 million as of December 2020.
Returning victims’ monies requires a court disposal order, but this process can be delayed by factors such as the need for foreign cooperation, complex money trails, commingled funds, or multiple claims on the same seized assets.

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